Titleist 980F Fairway Wood Golf Club

Having traded my incredibly good Ping G2 3-wood for the G5 in the hope of getting even better performance, I ended up with a club I didn't like. It had a much higher and shorter ball flight and was more difficult to hit off the turf...but that's another review. I intended to go to e-bay and get a G2, but apparently the club is in high demand and auctions were rare and the prices were soaring.

I talked to a local pro who pointed me in the direction of the Titleist 980F fairway woods. He said that with the introduction of the new 904 series, the 980F had become plentiful and that most people who had gone for the new series wished they'd stayed with the older model.

Price:
The prices were great -- I got a 980F 15 degree 3 wood with a YS 6 Graphite Design stiff shaft. Prices for the woods range from about $30 (US) to $100 (US) with the 17 degree 4 woods apparently being the rarest and most expensive.

Feel:
The best attribute is the solid feel of contact at impact. Ping feel is like breaking glass, the Titleist is a solid "thunk".

Workability, Hitability & Flight:

It's easy to draw the ball with the 980F. It's harder, but not impossible, to hit a fade. The club face sets up just a bit closed like a Callaway Steelhead, which is not all that bad. Most mid-cappers have a tough time NOT hitting cuts, particularly with a 3 wood off the ground. The soleplate is almost like a Warbird and lets the clubhead speed through chucky and thick impacts. If you're worried about down-sizing, don't be -- the club is pretty much all sweet-spot. There's no problem hitting the 980F from any lie, tight fairway, long rough, whatever--with the smallish head, the club works like a utility club.

Shaft options:

When buying the club, get the shaft that fits you best. The 980F comes with a variety of shafts -- the most easily obtained is the stock Titleist 4375 graphite. It's a good place to start because the shaft was closely matched to the head and if you don't like it, you can easily obtain Pro-lite, Graphite Design, Fujikura and other shafts on ebay already tipped and trimmed for the Titleist bore-thru head and .335 diameter tip. These shafts can be expensive new, but on ebay, they run as low as $13 (US). If you intend to swap shafts, remember to get a graphite shafted club if you intend to stay with graphite, steel if you're going steel because the heads are weighted for different shaft material.

Look and shafts are exceptional. Performance seems to be similar to the 975F's I was replacing. However, they both more of a hollow feel than the 975's. I have returned to playing the 975's as they feel heavier and more solid at impact.

Ebay Sellers for both clubs were great and the product was received quickly. Again the transaction was far superior to needing to travel to another city to try and find a needed product. Ebay brings shopping to rural America.

i like the club as it was described in the advertisement and thats the way i got. it came the way it was mentioned in the ad. transection was smooth,unlike cleveland 588 gunmetal club i received from another vender

great club. easy to hit. consistent penetrating ball flight. I'd rather hit this club than a hybrid.

I'm a 7 Handicap and have always played Callaway fairway woods. Tried this club because I love my Titleist irons and have been very happy with it so far. It has a nice solid feel, ball jumps off of the club face. Very easy to hit off the deck, producing a nice boring trajectory. The only negative I have noticed is that the club tends to create a right to left drawing ball flight despite the fact that I play a slight fade on most of my other shots. I have hit several shots with the club back-to-back comparing it to my Callaway wood. This club is the only one in my bag the conistently draws the ball. Don't know, may be that mine is set up slightly closed at address, but the face appears normal when addressing the ball. Don't know if anyone else has experienced this. Despite that, I hit it well of the tee and can control it well enough on short par 4's to keep it in the short grass. Great club, I would buy another Titleist wood.

I had bought a used 980F 15 degree with Titleist 4375 stiff shaft. Even though it used to a rental and had quite some scratches, I knew it on the very first try. The hit feels crisp with a tingling sound and the ball goes long and straight.

Now, I tee-off with confidence using my 3-wood quite often on par 4s within 400 yards, especially on the first tee when I did not get enough warm-up on the range. A lot of times, I hit it 230-250 yards, only about 10 yards shorter than my driver!

I loved it so much that I bought a used 20 degree 5-wood as well. The 5-wood somehow does not feel quite as good but it is still good enough for me.

This club is the best club that I have ever hit from 200 yards to the pin. I can always hit the green. I it hits so high into the air you can get over the trees with ease. I bought this club because I already had the 3 wood version. buy with confidence awesome club.

I like the smallish head of the 980f. It has a low profile and the ball feels very solid at impact. The distance is good and the overall playability of the club is exceptional.

First, I normally do not carry any woods other than my 7.5 degree driver (also Titleist) I picked this up for a steal and tried it last weekend twice. It does not have an inflated head but no means looks undersized. I hit the first on a long par 3 - 260 yards within 18 ft pin high and the second from 240 on a long par five. I find this club easy to swing and has a large sweet spot. It is a great addition and will get much more use. Highly recommended.

I've always played clone type clubs but recently started upgrading. I got a few of the Titleist wedges and they really helped my game. I thought I'd try a Titleist wood (I got a 4 wood to replaced the 3 and 5 since I carry more wedges now) and see if I got the same results--I didn't! I got even better results. This thing just sets up perfectly. I can swing easy and the club makes solid contact and I hit it straight and long - 20 yards further than my 3 wood. (my 3 wood was an off brand newer style club too) I can't say enough about this club. I should have started playing good stuff sooner. I'm even considering becoming a Titleist endorser. Are you listening Titleist? Send me some stuff and I'll play it! You won't even have to pay me!

I tried a friends Titleist 980f 3 wood and hit it a mile compared to my own 3 wood. I also bought the 980f 5 wood recently and love the 5 wood even more. I seem the hit them straigher and longer which is what we are all looking for. If there is somthing specific your looking for, you usually can find it on Ebay.

This club gave me an extra 10-20 yards from the tee and fairway. It really shaped my misses. I will definitlely be getting the 5,7, and 9 woods. I higly recomend this club to you.

I haven't had much opportunity to hit this club, but when I have it feels solid and easy to hit. I've probably only played 10 full rounds this year, but this club put me within 15 feet on a par 5 from 230 yards out. I couldn't be happier with my purchase.

I bought this for my husband for Father's Day. One of his friends has this particular club and he used it one time and wanted one. I suprised him with it and he loves it. Uses it every week at least 2 or 3 times..

This club replaces my 21* 3 iron in my bag and is longer and easier to hit. I am able to hit hte ball higher on long approach shot to the green.

I bought this item after I have hit the 15* fairway wood for about 3 years. I bought it to match and it provides the same results. They are easy to hit and have a sweet sweet spot.

I saw this club on Ebay . I recently was golfing with a friend and he ask me to try his Titleist woods. Wow! that was it! this 980F that I hit was very long and sweetly STRAIGHT!!!! when I saw this one it was just right for my budget and got it pretty quick.

I brought the Titleist 980F fairway wood 2 weeks ago. This club has fully met my expectations. It was delivered in the condition as described and the seller's feedback and shipping updates were timely and informative.

Looks/Feel at Address = 10
Great look at address. Very nice clubhead shape. Somewhat square face, not rounded like alot of woods. Face depth is just right also, not too deep and not too shallow. Perfect club length. Sets up like a perfect 10 at address.

First shot impressions = 9
Ball seems to just explode off the clubface, which is obviously good for distance, but is not so good for working the ball.

After playing a few rounds = 7
The ball comes off with virtually no spin, the ball has a tendancy to just go like crazy when it hits the ground which makes shots that are within range but less than full strength hard to handle since the ball doesn't stop.

When your swing path is poor and you hit a ball with this club, there is no coming back. It will go the way you initially strike it. If the swing is inside to out, its going out. If the swing is outside in, its going in. Very unlikely to see a return hook or fade on slight mis-hits. Add this to the fact that the clubhead is on the smaller side to appeal to mid-low handicappers, and you get a club that is unforgiving.

All this adds up to a club that is hard to work for good players and equally unforgiving for poor swings. Kind of a grey area.


Overall = 8
+'s = Great look at address, great distance 3 wood.
-'s = Poor workability, unforgiving.

I have purchased the 980F 2 months ago approx and i cannot belive the distance and control its so easy to hit wit either a draw or a fade perfect club for an intermediate player i am so happy that i bought the 19 degree as well its an amazing club. PERIOD

Love it.
Combined it with an Aldila 65-R shaft. The NV 65-R is on my 3-wood. NVS 65-S on the driver (A glorious 983k). The NV-R still feels a bit stiffer than the NVS-S. Knew that going in. It's been a great addition to the bag for long-ish par three's and doglegs where I may need to leave it short or try to cut the corner and go over. Can make about 225-240 yds with it at the range off a tee. I don't use it on the fairway (585h 19* for that). Only played one round but used it 6 times. No slices, not even close. Just nice, strong hits that went where I wanted it to go.

When the 3 wood arrived 7 days after payment, the ferruleand shaft were both damaged. Not shipping damage because the box was intact. The club had been previously hit on something hard enough to bend the shaft and dent the ferrule. Bot have to be replaced or the club is of no use.

Club was in great condition... thanks!!! The shipping was fast, and seller was very good at leaving feedback if something was wrong (my address which was my fault)... Thanks for everything once again!